The church of Montemurlo

San Giovanni Battista Decollato Church is in the small town square

Montemurlo

The small church of Montemurlo has a long and rich history. It is first mentioned of during the coronation of Ottone III as emperor in the year 995. The church, which was renovated in the middle of the last century, has a very simple layout with one nave and a presbytery and choir area. The church was enlarged to its present day proportions in the 1500s by Bartolomeo Fonzio who added the presbytery and cloister. An imposing bell tower rises up over the church.

This bell tower used to serve as a lookout tower and was only turned over to church use in the sixteenth century. A pretty seventeenth century loggia protects the entrance to the church. Inside there are four altars, one of which dates back to the sixteenth century and which the other seventeenth century ones are modelled on. The altars and presbytery walls show paintings by Francesco Granacci, Giovanni Stradano, Matteo Rosselli and Giacinto Fabroni.

Montemurlo lies halfway between Prato and Pistoia. In recent years the town has experienced industrial and population growth. Not devoid in architectural and natural attractions scattered throughout the nearby countryside as well as in the town, Montemurlo is a town that takes visitors by surprise, unaware of all of its treasures. ...